Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast

Composer, arranger and pianist Iain Farrington's new album of Gershwin tunes is out on the SOMM label on 16th April 2021. In this podcast Farrington talks to Jon Jacob about his transcribing, his work as a musician, and how the BBC Proms 2020 season opener came to be. Buy the album https://newalbm.link/gershwinicity/

Manchester Collective's first album 'The Centre is Everywhere' features works by Schoenberg and Glass, plus a commission by Edmund Finnis. Adam Szabo and Rakhi Singh discuss the recording and their thoughts about digital projects embarked upon by arts organisations during the global pandemic. 

St Johns Smith Square Holy Week Festival 2021 begins on Sunday 28 March - Palm Sunday. Vocal group Tenebrae under the direction of Nigel Short features in pre-recorded and live streams as well as Amici Voices, violinist Lana Trotovšek, Bojan Čičić, and organist Steven Devine. For more information visit the St John's Smith Square website . 

On 5 March 2021, Clare Hammond releases her fifth disc for BIS Records with an adventurous programme of twentieth and twenty-first-century variations for piano. Music: Karol Szymanowski – Variations on a Polish Theme , Op. 10 (1904)

New sessions available for amateur and professional musicians root musical practise in the context of the wider arts and cultural scene, and they're delivered by Zoom. Sophie Renshaw discusses the project in this podcast episode. For more information about courses available visit https://www.insideoutmusician.com/ .

Visions of Childhood with soprano April Fredrick , the English Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kenneth Woods is out on 5 February 2021 -  https://orcd.co/_visionsofchildhood

Conductor Julian Perkins and soprano Kate Howden discuss Stephen Dodgson's rarely performed compelling chamber opera about the life of a Suffolk girl who broke the law for love. Purchase the recording of the work via all the usual platforms. https://naxos.lnk.to/866045961Na!product_page#

Jon Jacob speaks to John Rutter, Bryn and Marios Papadopoulos MBE at a recording for the Oxford Philharmonic's digital Christmas concert dedicated to scientists who have discovered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.  The concert features the premiere of John Rutter's new carol 'Joseph Carol' and is available on the Oxford Philharmonic's YouTube and Facebook pages from 18th December. 

Lifelong friends Katharine Dain and Sam Armstrong ended up quarantining together in Rotterdam for more time in 2020 than they anticipated. The result was a new album of music by Messaien, Debussy, Delbos, and Duitilleux. Buy it here >>  https://lnk.to/KatharineDainRegardsSurLInfini

Jon Jacob talks to composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson about a new release on the Orchid Classics label pairing Simpson's Geysir with Mozart's Gran Partita. Full credits via the Orchid Classics website. https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100150-mark-simpson/

In the week that industry magazine Classical Music shifts to online, Jon Jacob speaks to its editor Lucy Thraves. Visit Classical Music online at https://www.classical-music.uk .

RPS Chief Exec James Murphy introduces some of the shortlisted names and organisations in this years RPS Awards. The full list can be found on the  Thoroughly Good Blog .

Tenor Nicky Spence introduces the Blackheath Community Opera project for 2020 - a lockdown performance of Stravinsky's Rake's Progress. WATCH 7.30pm Saturday 3 October YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqPeoqlECLodpfPEeEWCFug FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/BlackheathHalls/

Classical music documentary filmmaker John Bridcut's latest film celebrates the life of Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink. It's broadcast on the BBC on 26th September. In this podcast John Bridcut discusses his methodology and reflects on his experiences working with Haitink. This interview is also available in video format on the Thoroughly Good Facebook and YouTube pages. 

Accompany Jon Jacob on a tour of Hatfield House at one of the first pre-recorded concert series in the UK post-COVID19 lockdown. The Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival started on Friday 11 September. Watch  each concert on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL50aH6QSo6lv4YYC40wheDQjeO7FatuFz

Jon Jacob talks to BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Contrabassoonist Steve Magee about his lockdown arrangement of Eric Coates' classic wartime morale-boosting tune 'Calling All Workers'. Watch the video here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtxcSUNlKCw

Jon Jacob speaks to Richard Heason from St John's Smith Square and Owain Park, director from Gesualdo Six ahead of a test event for socially distanced audiences.  Watch the concert here >>  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TCqKV_aKrk

Ahead of the LPO’s Summer Sessions on YouTube, Jon Jacob visits Henry Wood Hall in London to see how social distancing regulations have impact live music-making. 

Excerpts from Brahms G Major Violin Sonata by Tasmin Little on Chandos and, Op 119 No. 3 by Olshansky

For more information about Blackheath's range of music-making and arts and culture courses now available worldwide via Zoom, visit  http://www.conservatoire.org.uk/